Circuit City Stores Short Circuit, Sh*tty Service Cited

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Ne'er ate 'er
Member Since: Apr 05, 2006

Show of hands. Who's surprised?

news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090...city_bankruptcy

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Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Jan 16, 2009 01:59 pm

Yeah, big shock.

Well, here in the Twin Cities it's all Best Buy Co. We have the corporate headquarters here (I've been in it a few times, it's AWESOME), and Circuit City just always gives me a bad aura when I go in...Best Buy is so big, bright and friendly, Circuit City you feel like you are annoying somebody if you ask for help...

Today, though, is the deadline for Best Buy corporate employees to accept or reject offered buyouts of their job. I heard 500 people have accepted the buyout...so they are downsizing too...that said, I'd bet 500 people is only 10% of the headcount in that massive place.

Trivial note: The Caribou Coffee that is in the Best Buy campus is the single most profitable Caribou in the state (maybe the chain as a whole)...#2 is the one in the campus of Thompson Reuters...I've worked in both buildings and I'll say this, there is nothing better for your bottom line than a captive audience.

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Jan 16, 2009 02:45 pm

I always liked Circuit City. I liked it a lot more than Best Buy. The store near me had a special parking spot for web order pickup, a special door you walk in, a special counter to walk up to. I'd order something on the web, drive to the store, and be in and out in just a few minutes. No dealing with inept staff, upselling jackasses, or anything.

Its too bad. Best Buy staff are some of my least favorite people on the planet. They manage to always look just busy enough to not be able to help me any time I'm in there. Now we have 2 Best Buy stores within a 10-minute drive of my house. So I guess I'm a Best Buy guy now :/

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Jan 16, 2009 02:48 pm

wow, I have the exact opposite experience...Best Buy peeps are almost annoyingly helpful...circuit city staff would rather sit and brag to each other about who has the coolest new cell phone or something rather than help a customer...

Member
Since: Apr 26, 2006


Jan 16, 2009 02:59 pm

Most of my worse consumer nightmares have been with Circuit City, and to be honest a couple of my best experiences were with them as well. But I will be sorry to see them go, it may be a while before real competition for Best Buy replaces them.

Eat Spam before it eats YOU!!!
Member
Since: May 11, 2002


Jan 16, 2009 03:07 pm

Yeah, ever since they opened the local one it was a great big 'what the hell were they thinking?'

1. Worst location
2. Rude clerks
3. cash registers in the middle of the store? I'll never figure that one out...

I shopped at Hauer Music when the employees walked out (about a week before they closed)... and it was still better than a good day at CC.

The nice thing is thelocal CC is in such a terrible place it will probably have problems liquidating... so 'cheap stuff' this spring. ... of course might take a couple hours to find a clerk to ring me up...

Final liquidation sales are awesome if you've ever been to one... Did 'Home Quarters' back in 96 I think... 1" sheets of plywood for a $1... find the manager, make an offer, he says yes... even on display cases... the plywood on the addition of my parents house is mostly shelves from that sale... I think they paid $900 for materials for a 1000sq/ft addtion...

If you still have a job it's going to be a good year :)

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Jan 16, 2009 03:09 pm

Quote:
If you still have a job it's going to be a good year :)


Well, if you still have one by the end of the year...this has the makings of a bad year...I really suspect it'll get worse before it gets better...the question is, how much worse?

Member
Since: Apr 26, 2006


Jan 16, 2009 05:26 pm

I feel ya dB, I passed up a nice Parker guitar today, had the coming year in mind knowing the worse hasn't hit yet. But this cycle too will pass in time. Looks like the politicians have spent the last 6 months stalling it and will do the same for the next 6 months. But it will come. And in the end we will be OK perhaps stronger for it. I heard a quote today:

"For every problem there is an opportunity, we tend to miss it because we focus on the problem"

Looks like Zeth has the right focus. Sad how that works though.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jan 16, 2009 08:31 pm

No surprise at all really. Been watching it for awhile now.

Myself, never had a good experience there at all here in MN.

Tadui, our Best Buy's here have that web order spot as well. Actually 4 or 5 of them per store. They are always willing to beat price and as dB stated, almost annoyingly helpful. None have ever been snobby or tried to up sell on anything I have ever purchased.

In fact, last year I hemmed and hawed on the HP printer I now own even though it was a killer price on Black Friday.

The kid who helped me said he would be there all day and thought he would be able to hang on to at least one. Indeed he did. I went back late that afternoon and indeed he did have one that he stashed in the back. Even carried it to the front for me and made sure the girl marked it back down the price that was only good for that morning.

Can't say I've ever had that happen at CC.

Ne'er ate 'er
Member
Since: Apr 05, 2006


Jan 16, 2009 08:55 pm

I bought both of our HDTVs at Best Buy. They had the most knowledgeable and helpful staff of any electronics chain store I've ever seen.

But really, the only reason I bought two large products from a local retailer is I needed them right away, and didn't want to wait the four to six weeks from an online purchase.

Does that make me UnAmerican? Har.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jan 16, 2009 09:44 pm

Nope, just wanting instant gratification.

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